Pliers-type wrench with cam-operated sliding jaw



June 3, 1958 T. LY 2,836,999

PLIERS-TYPE WRENCH WITH CAM-OPERATED SLIDING JAW Filed Aug. 14, 1957 Fla 2 8 '7 24 2/22 /4 40-i;/ 42/ 5a 56 n 52 1 /6 Thaddeus Ly INVEN TOR.

aalymuy Em nit PLlERS-TYPE WRENCH WITH CAM-OPERATED SLIDING JAW The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hand tools, generally speaking, and has reference in particular to a tool of novel design and construction which has crossed handles and jaws as are found in a pair of conventional-type pliers but has to do primarily with what is in effect an adjustable end wrench.

Wrenches having structural characteristics such as have been so far related are, of course, not broadly new. That is to say, providing a pliers-like wrench with opposed jaws having continuously parallel work-gripping surfaces which are coplanar and adjustable is old and generally well known as exemplified, for instance, in a patent to Kob 1,836,473 and also in a patent to Vissat 2,378,264. Other patents possessed of similar structural characteristics are known but are not to be touched upon here. In fact, the only purpose in mentioning the prior art specifically is to give the reader a lead as to analogous accomplishments by prior patentees so that it will then be evident that one objective here is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon prior art adaptations and, in doing so, to provide a construction in which manufacturers, hardware suppliers, and retailers will find their manufacturing and selling needs accounted for and users will find their everyday use needs effectually met.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention, three principal components which are hereinafter referred to as first, second and third units have been evolved, produced and structurally coordinated. These units are such in construction that they cooperate in providing a highly eflicient and reliable wrench wherein a dependable grip on the work is assured and wherein the jaws may be adjusted toward and from each other with expediency and only one handle is needed, after the adjustment is made, to operate the wrench much in the manner of an ordinary so-called end wrench.

More particularly, novelty is predicated on a firstunit having a handle with enlarged head means integral with the outer end of the handle, said means embodying a cheek portion provided with a fiat face having a straight keying groove open at its respective ends and opening through said fiat face of said cheek portion, said cheek portion having an outstanding extension constituting a stationary jaw and the latter having a linearly straight object gripping surface which is disposed at right angles to said groove and is offset and thus located adjacent to one end portion of the groove, the other end of the groove projecting beyond said gripping surface, a second unit embodying a movable jaw substantially like said stationary jaw and likewise having a linearly straight gripping surface continuously parallel to said first-named gripping surface, said second movable jaw unit also having a head portion provided with an assembling and adjusting rib at right angles to its gripping surface and slidingly keyed in said groove, and a third unit having a second handle with an outer end portion superimposed upon and crossing and pivotally mounted on said cheek portion, said outer end portion being provided with means States Patent having pin and slot operating connection with the head on said movable jaw.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Fig. l is a plan view of a pliers-type wrench constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the same observing the construction seen in Fig. l in a direction from right to left.

Fig. 3 is a view which is based on Fig. 1 and shows the relationship of the handles of two of the units and the jaws in open position.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showingthe components or units and how they are specifically constructed to cooperate.

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective observing the tool from what may be called the bottom side in relation to the other figures of the drawing.

With reference first to Fig. 4, the several components or units are denoted as a first unit 6, second or movable jaw unit 8, and third as well as complemental unit 10.

Unit 6 is characterized by a one-piece structure embodying a handle of suitable shape and length 12 with enlarged head means 14 at its outer end, said head means embodying a segmental shaped cheek portion 16 embodying a circular portion 18 having immediate connection with the outer end of handle 12. The check portion is characterized in that the fiat top surface 20 thereof is provided with an open ended groove 22 providing a keyway. It also has an abutment or guide shoulder 24 parallel to the groove, with the groove opening through the fiat top 29. The first and what is here designated as the relatively stationary jaw is denoted at 26 and has a flat Work gripping surface 28 which is parallel to the groove 22 and shoulder 24. It will be noticed that the cross-sectional thickness of the jaw is such that the inner or attached end 30 rises above the flat surface and is opposed in spaced parallelism to a coacting surface 32 on a bosslike riser 34 with the shoulders 32 and 30 providing a guideway. This guideway as well as the jaw 26 is at the left hand end of the groove and may be said to be offset in respect to the overall longitudinal dimension of the unit 6.

The unit 8 also comprises a jaw 36 which is here known as the relatively movable jaw, and this has a flat work-gripping surface 38 which is opposed to and movable toward and from the surface 28. The unit 8 also has an enlarged portion called a head at its inner end, and the head includes a coupling member 49 having a rectangular keying rib 42 which is interlocked with and slidable back and forth in the groove 22. The cross-sectional thickness of the jaw is such that it provides a shoulder or an abutment 44 which has abutting and sliding contact with the shoulder 24. The coupling member also has a guide and stabilizing member 46 which is ridable bak and forth in the guideway between the shoulders 30 and 32. The coupling member 40 also has an upstanding pin 48 which is operable in a suitably angled and positioned slot 48 in an extension or wing-like member 50 on the circular portion 52 at the outer end of the adjusting handle 54 of the unit 10. The circular portions 52 and 18 are superimposed and provided with bolt holes to accommodate the bolt 56 and the assembling and remany and obvious advantages over similarly constructed and performing pliers type-wrenches which are purported to provide a stabilized construction in which the applied forces may be relied upon and a construction in which no outward force between the handles is involved.

Since, as is obvious, the novelty is predicated upon the particular construction and arrangement of parts, and as the use and operation seems to be self-evident, a more extended description of the details is believed to be unnecessary.

Changesin shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice without de parting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Whatis claimed as new is as follows:

1. A pliers-type wrench comprising a first unit having a handle with enlarged head means integral with the outer end of the handle, said means embodying a check portion provided with a flat face having a straight keying groove open at its respective ends and opening through said flat face of said cheek portion, said cheek portion having an outstanding extension constituting a stationary jaw and the latter having a linearlystraight object-gripping surface which is disposed at right angles to said groove and is offset and thus located adjacent to one end portion of the groove, the other end of the groove projecting beyond said gripping surface, a second; unit embodying a movable jaw substantially like said stationary jaw and likewise having a linearly straight gripping surface continuously parallel to said first-named gripping surface, said second movable jaw unit also having a head portion provided with an assembling and adjusting rib at right angles to its gripping surface and'slidingly keyed in said groove, and a third unit having a second handle with an, outer end portion superimposed upon and crossing and pivotally mounted on said check portion, said outer end portion being provided with means having pin and slot operating connection with the, head on said movable jaw.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, andv wherein the first-named jaw is of a cross-sectional thickness greater than the cross-sectional thickness of said cheek portion with the junctional connection between the jaw: and cheek portion rising above the plane, of the fiat face of the cheek portion and defining a rigidifying and guide shoulder, a block-like bossv fixed to said flat face and defining a second shoulder, said shoulders being spaced apart and being parallel with each other and providing an intervening guideway, said guideway being parallel. to

the underlying keying groove, and the head on said second movable jaw unit having-a guide slidable back and forth in said guideway.

3. The structure defined in claim 2, and whereinsaid head also embodies a part functioning as a coupling member and carrying the pin of said pin and slot connection,

and the means on s aid outer end of said second handle comprising a wing-like extension constituting a second coupling member and having overlapping movable contact with said first coupling member and being provided with said slot, said pin working within the confines of said slot.

4. A pliers-type wrench comprising a first unit having a handle with integral head means at the outer end of the handle, said means embodying a circular portion joined immediately to the handle, and a segmental cheek portion carried thereby, the outer end of the cheek portion having a straight edge, at one end of which there is an outstanding jaw, said jaw being of a cross-sectional thickness greater than the thickness of the cheek portion and the junctional connection between the jaw and cheek portion providing a shoulder, a block-like lug built atop the flat top surface of said cheek portion and having a shoulder opposed to: and, spaced from the first-named shoulder and said shoulders defining a guideway, the top surface of said check portion having a channel-like groove opening at its ends through the edge portions of the cheek portionand opening to the flat top of the cheek portion, said groove being located between said shoulders, said jaw having a work-gripping surface which is at true right-tangles to the lengthwise dimension of said groove, a second unit embodying a movable jaw substantially like said stationary jaw. and likewise having a linearly straight gripping surface continuously parallel to said first-named gripping surface, said second movable jaw unit also. having a head portion at its inner end provided with an assembling; and adjusting ,rib at right angles to its gripping surface and slidingly keyed in said groove, said head. providing a coupling member having a guide operable in said 'guideway, and a third unit having a second handle opposed to and movable toward and from the first handle and provided at its outer end with a portion crossing and superimposed upon the circular portion of the first-named head means'and hingedly connected, thereto and provided at its outer end with a coupling member overlapping and having movable contact with the firstnamed coupling member.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 and wherein said first-named, coupling member is. provided with a pin and' said second coupling member is provided with a slot in which said pin is confined and slidingly operable.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Melchers Apr. 30, 1946' 

